Inhalation therapy apparatus

ABSTRACT

A disposable sealed container as it is formed is aseptically filled with water for inhalation therapy. A first duct fashioned integrally with the container has an integral breachable seal to provide an opening for passing oxygen under pressure through the water when the container comprises a humidifier reservoir for operating in a first mode and for removing water when the container comprises a nebulizer reservoir for operating in a second mode. A second duct fashioned integrally with the container has an integral breachable seal to provide an opening through which wetted oxygen is forced outwardly when the container operates in its first mode and through which atmospheric air is drawn when the container operates in its second mode. A first fitting selectively mounted on said first duct has a seal breaching element and an inlet end for passing oxygen from a pressure source into the container and enables its operation in said first mode. A second fitting selectively mounted on said first duct has a seal breaching element and a Venturi-like section for drawing and atomizing water from said container and enables its operation in said second mode.

United States Patent 1191 Allan et al.

1 1 Sept. 2, 1975 INHALATION THERAPY APPARATUS [75] Inventors: David Allan, Chicago; Richard J.

Reilly, Deerfield, both of 111.

[73] Assignee: Respiratory Care, Inc., Northbrook,

Ill.

[22] Filed: June 4, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 366,684

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl 261/78 A; 128/173 R; 128/186; 128/194; 261/121 R; 261/D1G. 65 [51] Int. Cl BOlf 3/04 [58] Field of Search 261/78 A, 76, 16, 121 R,

261/DIG. 65; 137/68, 205.5; 222/541; l28/l88,193, 194,173 R, 186, 196; 215/1 [56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,120,848 12/1914 Pointon 128/173 R X 1,336,905 4/1920 Hunzicker.. 261/121 UX 1,376,561 5/1921 May 261/121 1,892,750 l/l933 R0theim..... 128/173 UX 2,449,734 9/1948 Wunsch 1 128/173 R 2,546,214 3/1951 Curry 128/173 R 2,641,253 6/1953 Engelder 128/188 2,709,577 5/1955 Pohndort et al. 128/185 X 2,826,454 3/1958 Coanda 128/173 2,869,188 1/1959 Cameto 21/117 2,981,526 1 4/1961 Grumbach. 261/121 3,019,646 2/1962 Gayin 128/185 X 3,066,923 12/1962 Botelcr 261/76 X 3,092,275 6/1963 Brunton.. 215/1 A 3,189,030 6/1965 Rupp 1 128/186 3,206,175 9/1965 Botelcr 261/16 3,265,067 8/1966 Eh1inger.. 128/196 3,347,401 10/1967 Natat 215/1 C 3,353,536 11/1967 Bird et a1. 128/194 3,374,927 3/1968 Schmidt 222/541 X 3,391,951 7/1968 Miller 137/68 X 3,522,806 8/1970 Szekely 128/173 3,527,212 9/1970 Clark 128/173 3,572,660 3/1971 Mahon 261/78 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 624,260 7/1961 Canada l37/205.5 59,311 5/1938 Norway.... 128/173 R 1,302,131 7/1962 France 215/1 C 940,988 ll/1963 United Kingdom 215/1 'C Primary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-William Cuchlinski, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Eric P. Schellin [5 7] ABSTRACT A disposable sealed container as it is formed is aseptically filled with water for inhalation therapy. A first duct fashioned integrally with the container has an integral breachable seal to provide an opening for passing oxygen under pressure through the water when the container comprises a humidifier reservoir for operating in a first mode and for removing water when the container comprises a nebulizer reservoir for operating in a second mode. A second duct fashioned integrally with the container has an integral breachable seal to provide an opening through which wetted oxygen is forced outwardly when the container operates in its first mode and through which atmospheric air is drawn when the container operates in its second mode. A first fitting selectively mounted on said first duct has a seal breaching element and an inlet end for passing oxygen from a pressure source into the container and enables its operation in said first mode. A second fitting selectively mounted on said first duct has a seal breaching element and a Venturi-like section for drawing and atomizing water from said container and enables its operation in said second mode.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 INHALATION THERAPY APPARATUS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 856,756, filed Sept. 10, 1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to inhalation therapy. Particularly it relates to humidifiers and nebulizers of thetype used in inhalation therapy.

Inhalation therapy is an art of treating with oxygen having a high moisture content. The moisture may be provided by humidification of oxygen or atomization of water. Apparatus known as humidifiers are adapted for effecting the former by discharging into the atmosphere oxygen which has been broken into bubbles and has been forced under pressure through a volume of water. Apparatus known as nebulizers are adapted for effecting the latter by discharging into the atmosphere water which has been broken into a mist of fine drops.

A conventional humidifier comprises a water container of glass fabrication with an upper closure. A metal oxygen supply tube extends through the closure. It carries a radial perforated plate at its lower end for breaking up oxygen, introduced under pressure through the tube, into bubbles. As the bubbles rise through the water, they become moisture coated for discharge into the atmosphere.

While there are several heretofore known types of nebulizers, a conventional nebulizer of the type with which this disclosure is concerned comprises a water container of glass fabrication with an upper closure. A Venturi tube which may be of rigid plastic fabrication is associated with the closure. It utilizes oxygen under pressure to atomize water in the container and force the atomized water through a tube opening into the atmosphere. A

Disposable humidifiers and nebulizers, according to some conventional practice, are provided by manufacturers in completed condition with sterile water. Therefore, an institution, such as a hospital, is required to have an inventory of humidifiers and nebulizers, each with its water container, if it is to satisfy all requirements. Because of the high cost attendant using con ventional inhalation therapy apparatus, many institutions use reusable humidifiers and nebulizers. But this practice creates a burden on trained personnel, already in short supply. Moreover, whether it produces the desired economy is highly disputable.

It is an object of this present invention to reduce the cost of inhalation therapy.

It is another object of the invention to minimize inventory required for inhalation therapy.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a prefilled container selectively adapted as a reservoir for a humidifier and a nebulizer.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide fittings for selective conversion of a prefilled container into a humidifier or a nebulizer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To effect the foregoing and other objects of the invention a container is provided for inhalation therapy apparatus. It comprises a body having a chamber definsaid chamber and a lower end portion fluidly connected with said chamber below the normal liquid level. A second duct is integrally connected to said body above the normal liquid level in the chamber and has a passage fluidly connected to said chamber. A breachable seal defines a penetrable sterile barrier integrally fashioned with each of said ducts for isolating a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the ensuing description reference is made to ac companying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a container embodying the invention and being partially elevational and partially sectional;

FIG. 2 is a view according to the section line 2-2 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of an upper portion of said container in section and adapted as a humidifier;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, however, showing said container adapted as a nebulizer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a container generally designated 10 is shown vertically oriented. It is comprised of a body 12 having therein a chamber 14 which defines a reservoir for water 16. Body 12 has a bottom 18, and at its upper end a restricted neck 20 forms a transition component atop of which there is a small head 22 from which a nose-like duct 24 extends. An external thread 26 is fashioned on the wall of duct 24, and its passage 28 has an axis which is disposed normally to the vertical axis of body 12.

Another duct 30 has a passage 32 which is vertically disposed on an extends along the outside of body 12. A vertical section 34 of the wall defining said body is integral with or common to the wall defining duct 30 and said section separates the upper portion of passage 32 from chamber 14. However, the bottom of section 34 is spaced upwardly from bottom 18 and thereby generates a channel 36 through fluid-passage which the lower end portion 38 of passage 32 is fluidly connected to chamber 14. Accordingly, water 16 will have a common level in chamber 14 as well as duct 30. The last duct has an upper end portion 40 which extends outwardly from body 12 and is spaced apart from head 22 and duct 24 to which said upper end portion is normally disposed. A. thread 42 fashioned externally of said upper end portion comprises means enabling operation of container 10 selectively as a reservoir for a humidifier and a reservoir for a nebulizer, as will become more fully apparent from ensuing description.

A pair of tearable or rupturable membranes 44 and 46 disposedat the outer ends of ducts 24 and 30 comprise breachable sealing means which completely close ducts 24 and 30 and wholly isolate water 16 from the atmosphere. Other forms of breachable sealing means, such as pop-apart or tear out sections, optionally may be provided in lieu of said membranes. Membrane 44 when breached enables passage of: (a) humidified oxygen from chamber 14 to the atmosphere in the direction of arrow 48 (FIG. 3) when container 10 functions as a humidifier reservoir and (b) atmospheric air into chamber 14 in the direction of arrow 50 (FIG. 4) when the container functions as a nebulizer. Membrane 46 when breached enables passage of: (a) oxygen in the direction of arrows 52 and 54 when the container functions as a humidifier reservoir and (b) oxygen and water, respectively, in the directions of arrows 56 and 58, and a combination thereof in the direction of arrow 60, when the container functions as a nebulizer reservoir. Preferred container is fashioned of a semirigid plastic such as polypropylene. However, the particular material is not limiting on the invention. Preferably the container is blow molded, ducts 24 and 30 and wall section 34 as well as membranes 44 and 46 being integrally fashioned with body 12 as part of the molding process. In consequence, the container will be sterile filled with water to a desired level during the molding process, using known art for plastic container formation and simultaneous filling and modified, of course, to accommodate the present container design. Further description of the molding and filling process is omitted as its details do not form a part of the present invention.

An oxygen coupling means generally designated 62 (FIG. 3) enables use of container 10 as a reservoir for a humidifier. It comprises a fitting or cup-shaped female 64 concentric about a vertical axis and with an internal thread 66 for mating with thread 42. An axially' elongated oxygen tube 68 has a preferably fixed lower end portion extending through the top wall 70 of the female. In the illustrated embodiment said lower end portion is fashioned as a piercing, tearing or breaching element 72 disposed within said female. Accordingly, as said female is threaded on the thread 42 of duct 30,

membrane 46 will be torn or breached and its passage 32 will become fluidly connected with a vertical passage 74 which extends through said oxygen tube.

Oxygen coupling means 62 comprising a second internally threaded female fitting 76 for fluidally connecting duct 30 to a supply source (not shown) for providing oxygen under'pressure. Fitting 76 has a stepped internal axial bore 76 whereby there is generated a medial internal annular shoulder 80 and a lower annular lip 82. A flexible snap in and pressure relief pop out plug 84 of rubber, for example, having a snap in groove 86 for engaging the plug about lip 82 forms a bottom element of fitting 76.

The passaged upper end portion 88 of oxygen tube 68 extends through the center of pop out plug 84 in sealed engagement therewith. The association is frictional such that said pop out plug and the oxygen tube may be relatively rotated under manual force. The top of the oxygen tube is sealingly held in frictional engagement in the stepped central hole 90 of a compressible sealing member 92, which is mounted on shoulder 80 in vertically spaced association with the pop out plug.

The parts are proportioned such that a male member (not shown) on which fitting 76 is adapted to be mounted will press sealing member 92 against shoulder 80 upon assembly.

The parts also are proportioned such that oxygen 1 with a meter pressure of 50 lbs. p.s.i. when introduced into passage 32 through passage 74. will force its wayto the bottom of chamber 14. There it will form a large bubble and pass upwardly through water 16 in said chamber for removal therefrom to the atmosphere in humidified condition through passage 28, provided that membrane 44 has been breached. V v

To the latter end, in the illustrated embodiment, a horizontally passaged catheter adapter or fitting 94 having an internal thread 96 for mating thread 26 is threadedly engaged on duct 24. An inwardly projecting breaching member 98 which may be fashioned integrally with adapter 94, is arranged and proportioned such that, as said adapter is threaded on said last duct, membrane 44 will be torn, ruptured or breached for en abling escape of humidified air from chamber 14 in the direction of arrow 48, as aforesaid.

A Venturi-like structure generally designated 100 (FIG. 4) enables use of container 10 as a reservoir for a nebulizer. It comprises a T-shaped body having a section 102, shown vertically oriented, and a fluid outlet section 104, shown horizontally oriented. The latter has a wide horizontal passage 106 opening to atmosphere and may be externally threaded as at 108 to enable connection to a member such as a tube or fitting (not shown) for further directing fluid output. Body section 102 is generally vertically passaged having an upper passage 1 l0 and a lower passage 112 which are disposed in parallel though superposed association. A short horizontal passage 114 of relativelysmall diameter in axial alignment with and fluidly connected to the inner end of opening 106 fluidly connects passages and 1 12.

Passage 110 is defined by the tubular upper end portion 116 of body section 102. A fitting 118 which may be of identical construction to fitting 76 is mounted on the outermost end part of said upper end portion for fluidly connecting structure 100 to an oxygen supply source (not shown). Accordingly, further description of fitting 118 is omitted.

Passage 112 is defined by the lower end portion 120 of body section 102. The lowermost part of said body section is fashioned as a female or receptacle 122 with which passage 112 fluidly communicates. A thread 124 fashioned internally of said receptacle is proportioned for mating with thread 42 whereby assembly 100 may be mounted on duct 30.

A breaching tool 126 which projects into receptacle 122 defines the lowermost part of passage 112. The tool is proportioned such that it will breach, tear or rupture membrane 46 when assembly 100is threadedly mounted atop duct 30. Thereby fluid communication can be established between passage 32 and opening 106 through passages 112 and 114.

Body section 102 comprises a Venturi tube in which the lower end portion of passage 1 10 is fashioned as at 128 such that oxygen introduced therein under pressure in the direction of arrow 56 through fitting 118 will be directed at right angles through passage section 114 and expelled through outlet section 104 in the direction of arrow 60. When structure 110 is operably' mounted, such oxygen movement will cause water 16 to be drawn up passage 32 in the direction of arrow 58, through passage 112, into passage 114 down-stream of its juncture with section 1 10 and broken up into a spray of fine droplets which will be expelled with the oxygen, provided membrane 44 is breached.

To the latter end, in the present embodiment, a fitting 130, which may be of identical construction to fitting or adapter 94, is mounted on duct 24. Accordingly, further description of fitting 130 is omitted. However, in this case, passage of fluid is in the direction of arrow from container 10.

As many changes can be made in the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of their teachings, it is intended that the detailed description and the accompanying drawings shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A liquid container for inhalation therapy apparatus comprising:

a. a body having a walled chamber with a body collectively constituting a reservoir for a liquid; said reservoir having a predetermined amount of liquid therein;

. a first duct having a passage with an upper end portion disposed above the normal level of said liquid and a lower end portion fluidly connected with said chamber below the normal level of said liquid and a major longitudinal portion of said duct being integral externally with respect to a wall of said body;

c. said first duct defined by vertical wall means including a vertical wall portion extending coextensively with said body wall from a top part of said chamber to a position spaced above the bottom of said container to define a fluid passage channel along the bottom of said container for fluidly connecting the passage in said first duct with said chamber;

d. a second duct integrally connected to said body above the normal level of said liquid and having a passage fluidly connected to said chamber;

e. a breachable membrane seal constituting a penetrable sterile barrier integrally formed with at least one of said ducts for isolating a liquid in said chamber, and also means for sealing off said other duct;

f. each duct having a terminus which is displaced one from the other;

g. the passage in said second duct including a substaritial portion disposed normal to the passage in said first duct; and

h. the first duct terminating in an external threaded portion whereby a breaching element mounted with a cup-shaped female may be screwed thereon and said seal is thereby breached.

2. A container according to claim 1 characterized by atomizer means on said first duct for selectively connecting said container to an oxygen input source and delivering nebulized liquid to a patient.

3. A container according to claim 1 characterized by 'means on said second duct defining a two way path for selectively passing humidified oxygen out of said container and atmospheric air into said container.

4. A combination according to claim 1 characterized by means on said first duct enabling selective operation of said container in a first mode as a humidifier reservoir.

5. A container according to claim 4 further characterized by an oxygen coupling associated with said enabling means for operating said container in said first mode.

6. A combination according to claim 1 characterized by means on said first duct enabling selective operation of said container in a second mode as a nebulizer reservoir.

7. A container according to claim 6 characterized by a Venturi-like structure associated with said enabling means for operating said container in said second mode. 

1. A LIQUID CONTAINER FOR INHALATION THERAPY APPARATUS COMPRISING: A. A BODY HAVING A WALLED CHAMBER WITH A BODY COLLECTIVELY CONSTITUTING A RESERVOIR FOR A LIQUID, SAID RESERVOIR HAVING A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF LIQUID THEREIN, B. A FIRST DUCT HAVING A PASSAGE WITH AN UPPER END PORTION DISPOSED ABOVE THE NORMAL LEVEL OF SAID LIQID AND A LOWER END PORTION FLUIDLY CONNECTED WITH SAID CHAMBER BELOW THE NORMAL LEVEL OF SAID LIQUID AND A MAJOR LONGITUDINAL PORTION OF SAID DUCT BEING INTEGRAL EXTERNALLY WITH RESPECT TO A WALL OF SAID BODY, C. SAID FIRST DUCT DEFINED BY VERTICAL WALL MEANS INCLUDING A VERTICAL WALL POTION EXTENDING COEXTENSIVELY WITH SAID BODY WALL FROM A TOP PART OF SAID CHAMBER TO A PPSITION SPACED ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER TO DEFINE A FUID PASSAGE CHANNEL ALONG THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER FOR FLUIDLY CONNECTING THE PASSAGE IN SAID FIRST DUCT WITH SAID CHAMBER, D. A SECOND DUCT INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BODY ABOVE THE NORMAL LEVEL OF SAID LIQUID AND HAVING A PASSAGE FLUIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID CHAMBER, E. A BREACHABLE MEMBRANE SEAL CONSTITUTING A PENETRABLE STERILE BARRIER INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID DUCTS FOR ISOLATING A LIQUID IN SAID CHAMBER, AND ALSO MEANS FOR SEALING OFF SAID OTHER DUCT, F. EACH DUCT HAVING A TERMINUS WHICH IS DISPLACED ONE FROM THE OTHER, G. THE PASSAGE IN SAID SECOND DUCT INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION DISPOSED NORMAL TO THE PASSAGE IN SAID FIRST DUCT, AND H. THE FIRST DUCT TERMINATING IN AN EXTERNAL THREADED PORTION WHEREBY A BREACHING ELEMENT MOUNTED WITH A CUP-SHAPED FEMALE MAY BE SCREWED THEREON AND SAID SEAL IS THEREBY BREACHED.
 2. A container according to claim 1 characterized by atomizer means on said first duct for selectively connecting said container to an oxygen input source and delivering nebulized liquid to a patient.
 3. A container according to claim 1 characterized by means on said second duct defining a two way path for selectively passing humidified oxygen out of said container and atmospheric air into said container.
 4. A combination according to claim 1 characterized by means on said first duct enabling selective operation of said container in a first mode as a humidifier reservoir.
 5. A container according to claim 4 further characterized by an oxygen coupling associated with said enabling means for operating said container in said first mode.
 6. A combination according to claim 1 characterized by means on said first duct enabling selective operation of said container in a second mode as a nebulizer reservoir.
 7. A container according to claim 6 characterized by a Venturi-like structure associated with said enabling means for operating said container in said second mode. 